A European Union delegation paid visits to several polling stations during today's parliamentary polls, despite the Egyptian government's refusal to allow foreign monitoring of elections. According to state-run media outlets, several members of the National Council for Human Rights in Egypt accompanied the EU delegation, which visited certain polling stations in the capital, including those in the Helwan and Al-Sahel districts. Council secretary-general Mahmoud Karim said that members of the delegation had asked about the electoral procedures taking place at polling stations and registered complaints that were brought to their attention, according to Egyptian state television. International rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, are monitoring the balloting and are expected to issue reports on the overall integrity of the electoral process. Egyptian authorities have consistently resisted oversight of elections by international groups.
